I've pulled 4K before with my 97 XJ. The engine was strong enough to bring the load up to legal interstate speeds. I have a 5 speed which handled the weight fine too. My suspension didn't sag. I wouldn't try towing that (on any rig really) without trailer brakes. However the weight of the Jeep is not enough to control anything that heavy. Anything that causes the trailer to become unsettled (grooved roads, emergency maneuvers wind) will throw the Jeep around and there is nothing you can do about it. While I thought the Jeep did great with amount I wouldn't make it my constant tower for that amount or more. Once in while if I need to I won't hesitate to do it again.

60 miles? IF you got a trans cooler and trailer brakes, I'd say go for it if you need to. Just take it easy. If you plan on doing that fairly regular basis I would highly recommend getting something heavier to pull with.

 

According to the manual this is correct but as I recall assumes a tow package which includes a tranny cooler. Definitely trailer brakes. Another consideration for any vehicle, but especially the Cherokee is to subtract 10% off the tow capacity if you live and travel in relatively flat country. Increase it to 25% if you live or travel in mountainous terrain. Also you should subtract from the towing capacity the weight of prospective passengers and gear in your towing vehicle. You do not want to be bumping up against the tow capacity.

 

The owners manual doesn't assume anything.....it states the XJ must have 4.0L, auto tranny, auxiliary tranny cooler, HD engine cooling and trailer brakes to tow 5k lbs. Manual tranny XJs r rated at 3k lb towing max. Will the XJ move heavier loads....yes, will it do it safely....no.

 

So I should acctualy be good before my mods. Unloaded weight is 2545 dry hitch weight is 275 and the gvwr is 4550 with an ATV on its cargo deck.

 

I think I'd rather just get a truck for the weekend than risk messing up my XJ. Hopefully my dad thinks the same way I do. He's not the one that needs to drive it every day.

 

I'm getting it so me and the family can go where ever we want and not have to worry. Normally I just bring my tent, but it would be nice to have the extra things.

 

If you build a bastard pack, you use s-10 or dakota springs. That's a clue. Basically you're talking a less than 1/2 ton, maybe quarter ton vehicle on a short wheelbase without decent brakes or mass to start.

Starting a load may work, stopping it will be something else.

 

When I started my landscaping business I had to use my'96 cherokee. The D35 pulled a5x10 trailer with no effort with big loads... Debris from clean ups, soil and stuff. As soon as I lifted it, it exasperated a problem in the diff... The gears got chewed up! i say dont do it! I now use a Ram 2500 4x4 for work, the cherokee now has a D44. Jeep for offroad, truck for pulling loads :-)